MRT-3 service hours extended

MANILA, Philippines — Weekday operations of the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 (MRT-3) have been extended by one hour.

Starting yesterday, the closing time at the North Avenue and Taft Avenue stations has been adjusted to 10:25 p.m. and 11:04 p.m., respectively.

Services of the MRT-3 during weekends will remain the same.

Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has ordered the deployment of more trains during peak hours after he inspected the MRT-3 on March 17.

After discussions with the rail line’s Japanese maintenance provider, Dizon said the MRT-3 management has decided that maintenance will be set on weekends.

Meanwhile, Dizon said the Light Rail Transit Line 1 deployed one more train yesterday to offset the transport strike organized by Manibela.

A three-day nationwide jeepney strike began yesterday as public utility vehicle operators criticized the PUV modernization program.

“In the coming days, we will take a look at what the impact (of the strike) will be. I asked Undersecretary Steven Pastor to add more EDSA Carousel buses. We are doing everything we can so that commuters will not be troubled with this,” Dizon said.

“We are calling on our colleagues in the transport sector. Let us talk instead. Let’s stop doing these strikes so that our countrymen will no longer have to suffer,” Dizon said.

He visited the Communications and Command Center of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) in Pasig City, where he and other officials monitored the traffic situation.

MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said they decided not to “indiscriminately” deploy state vehicles offering free rides to avoid competing with PUV operators who did not join the transport strike.

Four MMDA shuttle buses, trucks from the Philippine Coast Guard and vehicles of the police Highway Patrol Group provided free rides to stranded commuters.

Enforcement of the number coding policy continued, Artes said, as suspending it could worsen traffic.

In Manila, two trucks were parked at the Kartilya ng Katipunan Shrine near the city hall.

No stranded passengers were observed in the city.

Members of Manibela picketed along Panaderos street in Sta. Ana, calling on the government to restore the five-year franchise of jeepney drivers.